Alexander Pope Quotes

Some people will never learn anything, for this reason, because they understand everything too soon.

A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely sobers us again.
Fired at first sight with what the Muse imparts,
In fearless youth we tempt the heights of Arts;
While from the bounded level of our mind
Short views we take, nor see the lengths behind,
But, more advanced, behold with strange surprise
New distant scenes of endless science rise!
So pleased at first the towering Alps we try,
Mount o’er the vales, and seem to tread the sky;
The eternal snows appear already past,
And the first clouds and mountains seem the last;
But those attained, we tremble to survey
The growing labours of the lengthened way;
The increasing prospect tires our wandering eyes,
Hills peep o’er hills, and Alps on Alps arise!

Words are like Leaves; and where they most abound,
Much Fruit of Sense beneath is rarely found.

There, take (says Justice), take ye each a shell: We thrive at Westminster on fools like you; 'T was a fat oyster,—live in peace,—adieu.

So Man, who here seems principal alone,
Perhaps acts second to some sphere unknown.
Touches some wheel, or verges to some goal,
'Tis but a part we see, and not a whole.

Not with more glories, in th' etherial plain,
The sun first rises o'er the purpled main,
Than, issuing forth, the rival of his beams
Launch'd on the bosom of the silver Thames.
Fair nymphs, and well-dress'd youths around her shone,
But ev'ry eye was fix'd on her alone.
On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore,
Which Jews might kiss, and infidels adore.
Her lively looks a sprightly mind disclose,
Quick as her eyes, and as unfix'd as those:
Favours to none, to all she smiles extends;
Oft she rejects, but never once offends.
Bright as the sun, her eyes the gazers strike,
And, like the sun, they shine on all alike.
Yet graceful ease, and sweetness void of pride,
Might hide her faults, if belles had faults to hide:
If to her share some female errors fall,
Look on her face, and you'll forget 'em all.

This nymph, to the destruction of mankind,
Nourish'd two locks, which graceful hung behind
In equal curls, and well conspir'd to deck
With shining ringlets the smooth iv'ry neck.
Love in these labyrinths his slaves detains,
And mighty hearts are held in slender chains.
With hairy springes we the birds betray,
Slight lines of hair surprise the finney prey,
Fair tresses man's imperial race ensnare,
And beauty draws us with a single hair.
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Erguvan deniz üstünde gökler katında,
İhtişamla yükselir ya güneş, saltanatında
Yoktur rahibesinden doğarak gümüş
Renkli Thames'in göğsüne yayılan ışınlardaki cümbüş.
Hoş giyimli delikanlılar, çok sayıda güzel kız
Arasında tüm bakışlar onun üstünde yalnız.
Ak gerdanından bir haç, öyle bir
Haç ki Yahudi görse öper, hayran olur kafir.
İşlek bir aklın işareti canlı bakışları
Gözleri fıldır fıldır, uçarı mı uçarı:
Kimseye iltifat yok, herkese gülümsüyor,
Çoğunluk reddediyor ama kimse ona küsmüyor.
Gözleri sanki güneş, değen gözün sahibi
Çarpılıyor, herkese eşit parlıyor yine güneş gibi.
Örtüyor kusurlarını o soylu rahatlık,
O kibirsiz şirinlik, kızların kusurları olursa artık:
Ama düşmüşse onun da payına bütün hanımlardan,
Yüzüne bakın, he

An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie

Sure flattery never traveled so far as three thousand miles; it is now only for truth, which over takes all things, to reach you at this distance.

Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends.

Nature and Nature's laws lay hid in night:
God said, Let Newton be! and all was light.

Who ne'er knew joy but friendship might divide, Or gave his father grief but when he died.

Genius creates, and taste preserves. Taste is the good sense of genius; without taste, genius is only sublime folly.

Launch not beyond your depth

Algunas personas nunca aprenden nada, porque todo lo comprenden demasiado pronto.

"Blessed is the man who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed" was the ninth Beatitude which a man of wit (who, like a man of wit, was a long time in gaol) added to the eighth.